Tag Archives: Tui Lolohea

Full disclosure: I thought long and hard about the value of writing another 1000 words about another disappointing evening watching our beloved Warriors. This past month, in particular, ever since the finals dream was over, it’s felt like everyone — players, coaching staff, media, fans — has been going through the motions waiting for this nightmare to end. And now, mercifully, that the end is here, there seems little need to explore the minutiae of the final nail in the coffin. The post-mortem results will be written in due course — the embalming solution has been injected and the superficial evidence has been recorded — but for a crime as severe as this season, it’s important not to rush things, it’s crucial that the examination is as thorough as possible. Continue reading It’s All About Completion→

The article below continues the NRL Warrior 2017 Storylines series, where we ponder the potential storylines of the upcoming season. If you missed them, click here for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

16 May 2017

Warriors unchanged yet again

For the fifth consecutive week, the Warriors have named the same 17 for Friday night’s ‘home’ game against the Dragons. Fresh off back-to-back wins against the Roosters and the Panthers, the latter victory secured by a thrilling last-minute David Fusitu’a try, the Warriors are expecting a sell-out crowd at Waikato Stadium. ‘Every season we’ve made a commitment to take at least one of our home games away from Mt Smart Stadium, and this year it couldn’t have come at a better time. We know there’s huge support for the club from all around New Zealand and we’re really excited to spend the week in Hamilton and getting involved around the community. Hopefully we’ll put on a great show on Friday night,’ said Warriors’ CEO Jim Doyle.

The Gold Coast Titans threw a party on Sunday afternoon and everyone was invited. They promised drama. They promised fireworks. They even organised a special guest.

Over 25,000 people poured through the gates. The event was broadcast around the world. From all angles. This was to be a special occasion. Not just an NRL match of great significance, but an entertainment extravaganza.

While the guest of honour waited patiently to make his arrival, a Tongan performer by the name of Konrad warmed up the crowd with his trademark crash and bash routine. The visitors from New Zealand did their best to contain him, and had even taken the early lead, but that just made the arrival of the Hayne Plane that much more anticipated — when would he get his boarding pass?

With the Cronulla defeat still fresh in the memory, this weekend hurts just that little bit more. Not just because the Warriors came so agonisingly close to the two points for the second time in three games, not just because it was against a Manly squad sitting below them on the ladder, but because it is a match the men from Mt Smart will look back at and wonder how they didn’t win, wonder why haven’t finally broken the Perth hoodoo.

After a rocky start, when for a brief moment it felt like the torrential rain was about to drown everything that has been good about the past few months, the Kiwi side worked their way back into the match and hammered away at the Manly door waiting for it to break down. It nearly did. On multiple occasions. But somehow the Warriors left WA with nothing to show for their efforts. Continue reading Golden Raindrops→